Use of Experimental Stream Mesocosms to Assess Mercury Uptake in Periphyton

Slide presentation (Robert Brent, James Madison University) describing development and field-testing of 8-ft stream mesocosms to study mercury uptake into periphyton. Experiments compared mesocosm and river periphyton, water-versus-sediment mercury sources, and the role of hyporheic flow. Findings indicate waterborne mercury dominated biological uptake and advective flow through contaminated sediment did not increase uptake.